On August 15, 2025, at around 4:00 a.m., 23-year-old Alexander Rojas was attacked by a juvenile black bear as he was leaving his home in Apopka, Florida. His Ring doorbell camera recorded just before the animal lunged at him. Rojas said he had seen two bears in his yard and tried to scare them off, but one suddenly turned on him, bit his arm, and scratched his rib cage. He managed to react by kicking its feet and punching its nose, which allowed him to break free. Bleeding heavily, he ran to a neighbor’s house and called his girlfriend, who helped him while he asked for towels to stop the bleeding.
Rojas was taken to the emergency room, where he received tetanus and rabies vaccines. Doctors recommended that he see a hand surgeon for a possible nerve or tendon injury that has left him with limited movement in two fingers. Without health insurance and facing more medical appointments ahead, his sister launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover expenses, which has already raised part of the goal.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) classified the case as a “human-bear incident” and confirmed they are investigating. Authorities have set up a trap to capture and relocate the animal. In the meantime, Rojas has decided to temporarily move into a trailer at his parents’ house in Sanford, saying he no longer feels safe in his own home.
The attack has sparked concern in the local community, where the presence of bears in residential areas has become increasingly common.
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